Convertible suitcase



March 3, 1959 D. c. POWELL CONVERTIBLE SUITCASE Filed I Oct. 8, 1956 NM w 24 C .2; 24 c 0 i 25 i fl 2 Awe/N21.-

simplicity of construction,

2,875,868 CONVERTIBLE SUITCASE Donald c. Powell, Los Angeles, Calif.,

tenth to Gadget-Of-The-Month Club, Inc., geles, Calif a corporation of California 7 assignor of one- -Los An- This invention relates to new and useful improvements in suitcases or other similar pieces of luggage, and the principal object ofthe invention is to substantially enhance the utility and functional adaptability of articles of this type. g

The above object is attained by the provision of what may be called a convertible suitcase, composed primarily of a main body section and a pair of side sections, together with means for selectively attaching the side s ections to the main body section and to each other. Thus, when the side sections are attached to the main body section they coact therewith to form a relatively large suitcase, However, when they are detached from the main body section and attached together, they form a relatively small and thin case, such as an overnight case, quite independently of the main body section. 7

An important feature of the invention therefore resides in the arrangement of the suitcase whereby it may be converted from a large case to one of a smaller capacity, as

desired.

vAnother feature of the inventionresides in the arrangement of separable hinge members and fastener members on the various sections of the suitcase, said hinge members and fastener members being selectively usable whereby the case sections may be variously grouped together, asaforesaid.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a carrying handle together with means foriattaching the same either to the main body section or-to one of the side sections of the suitcase, whereby the same handle may be used with the case in either one of its two different forms. 7

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its in its adaptability to economical manufacture and in the saving and convenience which it affords by eliminating the need for purchase of two different cases such as are provided by asingle case constructed in accordance with the invention. 1 r With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features asmay become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the suitcase with the side sections thereof attached to the main body section;

Figure.2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a case formed only by the two side sections;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary underside perspective view showing a typical arrangement of two coacting hinge members;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary group end view of the three ctions of the case and the coacting fastener members hereon; and

2,875,868 Patented. Mar. 3, 1959 Figure 6 is a fragmentary 'elevational view of tachable handle. V v Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the suitcase constructed in accordance with the inven; tion is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 the dc:

, and embodies in its construction a 'centrally disposed the pin, so as to main body section 11 and a pair of complemental side sections 12 13. I The side sections 12, 13 are disposed at opposite sides of the main body section 11 so as to constitute covers therefor, and if desired, the'side edges of the main body section may be upwardly convergent so that the suitcase is upwardly tapered, as shown. It will be also noted that the side sections are substantially thinner than the mainbody section. Sets of separable, selectively usable hinge members are employed for attaching the three sections of the suit case together. These hinge members may be of any suit' able conventional type and, for illustrative purposes in Figure 4 there has been shown a coacting with a male hinge member B. The female hin'ge member comprises a tubular body 14 provided with a lateral plate 15 whereby it may be secured to a section of the case by suitable rivets, or the like, 16. The male hinge member comprises a pin 17 projecting longitudinally from a cylindrical body 18 of a larger diameter than form a shoulder 19 to abut the body 14 of the female hinge member when the pin 17 is slid into the body 14. The body 18 of the male hinge member is also provided with a laterally projecting mounting plate 20 for attachment thereof to a section of the suitcase.-

The hinge members are used in pairs at-each'of the adjacent lower edges of the several case sections, the female hinge members A being secured to the side section 13 and to the edge of themain section 11 adjacent the side section 12, while the male hinge members 'B are secured to the side section 12 and to the edge of the main section 11 adjacent the side section 13, as indicated in Figure 2.

1: the main section 11 with the-male the side section 12.

The male and female hinge members may be connected together by relative longitudinal shifting of the adjacent case sections as shown by the arrows 21, 22in Figure 4, whereby the pin 17 of the malehinge member may be slid into the body 14 of the female hinge member. Sepa ration of the hinge members is effected by, relative sliding of the case sections in the opposite directions.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the three sections of the suitcase may be attached, together as shown in Figures 1 and 2 by engaging the female hinge members A on the side section 13 with the male hinge members B on the adjacent edge, of the main sectionll, and similarly engaging the femalehing'e members A on hinge members B on However, by separatingthe several hinge members, the main case section 11 may be completely removed, Whereupon the female hinge members'A'on' theside section 13 may be engaged with the male hinge members B on the side section 12, whereby the two side sections 12, 13 may be used to form a case as shown in Figure 3, independently of the main body section 11. The case so formed is, of course, substantially smaller and flatter than the original case shown in Figure l and, as such, may be effectively used for overnight purposes, or the like, where a relatively large case is unnecessary.

When the suitcase is assembled as shown in Figure 1, the side sections 12, 13 may be opened on their hinges to facilitate access to the interior of the case from either side. On the other hand, when the case is assembled as shown in Figure 3, the two sections 12, 13 may be opened on their hinges into a flat, co-planar relationship, whereby access to both side sections of the case may be easily had.

In order to hold the case in a closed position, sets of female hinge member A Easiness.

fiisteher members' C and'D" are provided on the various easesection's; These fastener members may be of"any suitable conventional form, and for illustrative purposes have been shown in Figure as comprising swingable cusps 23 carried by bases 24' in the fastener'niembers C. In the members D there are provided hook-shaped det'nt's 25 mounted on bases 26" and adapted for locking ies'iemem with the clasps 23 f them'embers c.

The-arrangement of the fastener members C, D is similar to the arrangement of 'the hinge membersA, B, on the various sections of: the suitcase. Thusrthe fastiier members Care providedati the topedgeof the side section 12 .and'atthet'op' edge of the main section 11 adjacent'to the Side section 13; The fastener members D are provided'atthe top edge of th'e side section 13'and atlthe top. edge of the main section 11' adjacent the side section 12. I

Accordingly, .when' thejcase, is assembled astshownin 1,, the various sections may; be fastened against opemn'gby engagingth'e m'embersC'o'n the side section 12' with the member's. D on. the rnain section 11, and engaging the members Con the main section with the members Don the side section 13. On the other hand, when the main section 11is removed and the side sections are assembled to form the case as in Figure 3,

the'fastener members C on the section 12 are engaged with the fastener inembersD'on the section 13.

i It may be-again noted that theparticular formofthe hinge members A, B. and, of" the fastener members C; D? has been shownv for illustrative purposes only, and

that any conventional separable, and selectively usable hinge fasteneri'members may be utilized.

support the case in an elevated position above a ground surface or floor, regardless of whether the'case is assembled as in Figure 1 or in Figure 3. Thus, in either instance, the provision of additional feet on the bottom of the main case section 11 is unnecessary. Y

The case sections 11, 12 and 13 may be formed from any suitable material in accordance with conventional practice well known in the art of luggage making. Moreover, the case may be' ofany desired size and shape, not. necessarily of a rectangular configuration shown in' the" drawings.

It will be observed from the foregoing, that theuinventionprovides aconvertible. suitcase, capable of use in either of two difierent'forms and'correspondingly different capacities, thus. aifording a savingand convenience not known in cases of conventional types.

While in the foregoing there has been disclosed the 7 preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may becomeappa'rent to-thoseskilled inthe art towhich the'invention relates; Accordingly, it is" not desiredto limit the invention-to this disclosure, and var-'- ious' modifications maybe resorted to, suchas maylie within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What'is claimed as new is:

A convertible suitcase comprising a main body section, first and second side sections disposed atopposite side's'of said main body section and constituting covers;

7 therefore, a first set of hingemembers and a first set'of The" suitcase. is provided with a carrying handle. 27

whi'chJmay be attachedeither to the main section 11 or to'one: of the side sections, ,such as for example, the side section 12. 'Ihis'may be facilitated by forming the ban die from resilient material so that the end portions thereof may be drawn toward each other as shown by the dotted lines 27a in Figure 6. The end portions of the handle, when sprung back to their normal position, are received in a pair of. sockets 28'secur ed to the top of the main section 11,: or in a pair of similar sockets 28a secured to the top of the side section 12. Thus, the entire assembly as shown in Figure 1 may be carried by the handle 27 or, if"the main ease section 11 is removed; the case as shown in. Figure 3may be carriedby the same handle after removing the latter from the case section 11 and applying it to the sockets 28a on the case sec tion 12." As already stated, the handle may be removed from, the sockets 2810i 2821 by, simply pressing the end portions of 'the handle toward each other as indicated at fld'wherebyto withdraw them fromthe sockets. How ever; itis tobe' understood'that'this detachable mounting the handle is also shown for illustrative purposes only, and that any other conventional handle,v attaching and dc.- tachingmeans may be employedi r p r I The siaesections. 12,) 13' preferably provided, at the bottom thereof" with button-shapedf'eet 32Z'which p and second sets of fastener members providedat the respective lower and upper edges of the'first side section and at the respective lower and upper edges'of'sai'd main bodysection adjacent the second side section, asecond set-of hinge membersand a second set of fastener members provided at the respective lower and upper edges-of the second side-sectionand at the respective lower and upper edges of the main body section adjacent the'first side section; the ufirst and'second sets of hinge members-and the first fastener members being separably conn'ectable, whereby the side sections may be selectively hinged-and fastened to said main body section and hinged and fastened to each other to form a case independently of the main body section, a carrying handle, means for selectively attaching said handle tosaid main'body sec-' tion and to one of said side sections, and feet' provided onlower edges of said sidesections and'supporting'said mainibo'dy section in anelevated position when the m ain body section and the side sections are hinged andfastened' together by said'fastener members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESYPATENTS Ross .Oct.' is, 1912' 

